Test 2

• Malnutrition encompasses various forms such as undernutrition (wasting, stunting, underweight), inadequate vitamin or mineral intake, overweight, and obesity, leading to diet-related non-communicable diseases. Globally, 1.9 billion adults are overweight or obese, while 462 million suffer from undernutrition.
• Wasting and stunting are distinct forms of malnutrition. Stunting, often found in developing countries, is chronic yet less urgent than wasting in emergencies.

  • Wasting results from severe food shortages, necessitating rapid refeeding due to its high mortality rate, making it a top priority in humanitarian crises.
• Severe malnutrition in children may manifest as lack of energy, irritability (common in kwashiorkor), and visible physical symptoms like a distended belly, a hallmark of kwashiorkor.
• Marasmus, affecting children predominantly, can result in a wasted appearance and low energy levels.
• Malnutrition, resulting from an imbalance of specific nutrients, can lead to severe health issues like stunted growth, vision problems, diabetes, and heart conditions
• Undernutrition occurs when essential nutrients are lacking due to insufficient food intake, which can result in deficiencies vital for bodily functions.
• Additionally, malnutrition treatment involves?

  dietary changes, supplements, and addressing underlying medical conditions for both children and adults, aiming to improve nutritional intake and support recovery.
• Two primary types of malnutrition exist:

  protein-energy malnutrition and micronutrient deficiency diseases
• Symptoms of malnutrition in adults

  Include:

  • a lack of appetite,
  • tiredness,
  • irritability,
  • inability to concentrate,
  • feeling cold,
  • depression,
  • muscle mass loss, and
  • heightened sickness risk
• Vitamin B12 deficiency can lead to symptoms such as 


  strange sensations, numbness, or tingling in the hands, legs, or feet, difficulty walking, anemia, a swollen tongue, memory loss, weakness, and fatigue.
• Folate deficiency, while less common, can also cause issues related to the development of DNA.
• Vitamin B12 is essential for healthy red blood cells and proper nervous system functionin.
• Megaloblastic anemia (pernicious anemia), where red blood cells don't develop normally and are unusually large. Caused from a lack of vitamin B-12 or folate.
• Niacin, another B vitamin, is crucial for maintaining healthy skin, nerves, and digestion.
• Vitamin & Mineral Deficiencies

  If you are not absorbing enough vitamins or minerals, you may be low on the following:

  • Fat-soluble vitamins, including A, D, E and K

  • Water soluble vitamins, including C and B (1-thiamin, 12 and

  folate)

  • Minerals, including selenium, zinc, copper, and iron
• Different types of malnutrition (2)

  Protein-energy malnutrition: resulting from deficiencies in any or all nutrients

  Micronutrient deficiency disease- resulting from a deficiency of specific micronutrients.

  
• Stunting


  is chronic, and its causative factors are poorly understood.

  Stunting usually does not cause an immediate threat to life and is quite common in many populations in developing countries.
• Wasting (more important than stunting in humanitarian emergencies)


  Wasting results from an acute shortage of food, which is reversible with refeeding and has a high mortality rate.

  • For these reasons, wasting is the highest priority form of malnutrition in humanitarian emergencies.
• Vitamin and Mineral deficiencies

  
• Vitamin B-1 is vital to the healthy growth and function of organs,

  including the brain and heart.
• The body needs vitamin B-2 to break down fats and drugs.
• Function of Vitamins


  Vitamins are necessary for energy production, immune function,

  blood clotting, and other functions.
• Function of minerals


  Minerals play an important role in growth, bone health, fluid

  balance, and several other processes.
• The most common vitamin B deficiency is the B12 vitamin;

  sometimes, it is folate.
• Treating malnutrition in children

  1. Dietary changes, such as eating foods high in energy and nutrients.

  2. Support for families to help them manage factors affecting the child's nutritional intake.

  3. Treatment for any underlying medical conditions causing

  malnutrition.

  4. Vitamin and mineral supplements
• Treatment of malnutrition in adults-

  Dietary changes are the main treatment especially eating foods high in energy and nutrients.

  • Support for families to help them manage factors affecting the child's/adult’s nutritional intake.

  • Treatment for any underlying medical conditions causing

  malnutrition.

  • Vitamin and mineral supplements.
• Length of Time Adults Take to Recover From Malnutrition

  The recovery rate was 51.9%, and the median recovery time

  was 16 days (95%CI:14.233–17.767).

  • Controlling for other factors; having anemia at admission, no

  plumpy nut provision, failing to enter in to phase 2 on day 10

  and a weight gain of more than 8 g/kg/day were significant

  predictors of recovery time
• Malnutrition can lead to:

  • Short and long-term health issues

  • slow recovery from wounds and illnesses

  • a higher risk of infection

  • difficulty focusing at work or school
• Scurvy (lack of Vit C)


  Older adults, young children, those who consume a lot of alcohol, and some people with certain mental health conditions may be particularly at risk.
• Malnutrition interventions: